AN: Well, in this chapter, Mickie gets used to being at home by herself while her mom is out somewhere with god knows who. Trust me, something is brewing for a big event in the future...

Chapter Two: The Next Morning After

Mickie eyes opened almost on cue the next morning, and she felt as though something was really wrong here. Her mom didn't come home last night, and she felt that she was not here this morning either. That alone made her almost smile, because she wouldn't have to deal with the drunk and violent ways that her own mother would have, and towards her own flesh and blood, no less.

She quickly crawled out of bed, and went over to her closet, shedding her pajamas as she went. She pulled out a red t-shirt, her shoes, and a pair of jeans, and quickly slipped them on. She went to grab her backpack, and slide it on her back. She was out the door, and up the street towards her school before her mother could even think about what happened, not that she would care anyway. But as she was walking, there was this nagging feeling that something bad might have happened to her, but for some really weird reason, Mickie wasn't caring about that, she just wanted to get on with her life, with or without her mom in it.

As Mickie was sitting in her final class of the day, she looked around at the various kids that were either listening to the teacher going on about equations and what not, and other kids were either asleep, or doing other things, like pretending to pay attention, and playing handheld video games. That is what Brett was doing, because Mickie looked back, and saw him reading his Algebra book, but he was really playing his PSP. Mickie couldn't help but laugh under her breath as she watched him. He was really something, after all. Then she thought back to what he said about a day earlier. If she needed anything, she could always come to him about anything.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and the end of school. Mickie grabbed her stuff, and began her walk home. She was looking forward to spending her time in her room alone, and that is what she was going to be, alone.

"Where ever she is, I hope that she is alright, and if she isn't where in the fuck is she?" Mickie asked as she began her light trek home.

Not soon after school let out for the day, Mickie found herself sitting in her room, doing her homework. That is what she would usually do while she was waiting for her mom to come back home. It was really strange. Even though she and her mom were not on really good terms a lot of the times, it was really difficult to live without her. She did rely on her for a lot of things, she was actually her only role of support.

Soon enough, there was a knock on the door, and Mickie quickly ran to answer it. She saw through a nearby window, that it was Brett at the door, dressed in a pair of jeans, some sneakers, and a black t-shirt. Mickie quickly fixed the sweats and t-shirt that she was wearing, and her messed hair, and answered the door. Brett smiled at her, and began his usual schtick that he would do with Mickie once he got there.

"Why hello. I was just wondering if you would like to buy some magazines from me today, you lovely young lady?" Brett said, joking around with his friend.

"Okay, jackass, what do you want, and why are you here?" Mickie asked her, putting her hands on her hips.

"Really? I am just here to hang out with you, because my mom is cooking at home, and it really stinks over there." Brett said, waving his hand in front of his nose to drive the point home. "Since it is about an hour before dinner time, and since I also have some time to kill, I figured that I might as well come over here to see what you were doing."

"Fine, come on in." Mickie said, opening the door, and letting her friend inside. Brett walked right inside, and sat on the couch. Mickie took a seat across from him, and smiled at him.

"Where is your mom? I haven't seen her in a few days." Brett stated.

"Out of town, most likely." Mickie said. "She didn't tell me that she was going anywhere, so I really don't know where she is."

"Really? So you are here all alone?" Brett asked in a surprised tone of voice.

"Yeah, so? I am used to her doing this all of the time, she will be back in a day or two." Mickie said calmly.

Brett couldn't believe what she was hearing. His friend, who was only about 16 years old, was basically living by herself most of the time and raising herself as well. If that wasn't enough, it sounded as if something like this happened on a pretty basis around here. Mickie sounded like she was so used to it, because she talked about it as if it was no big deal.

He also knew certain things about his friends mom that would piss anyone off and he wanted to call Mickie on it. Brett didn't want to pry or hurt his friend unintentionally, so he just let it go as if it was nothing to really think about.

"Alright, if you say so." Brett said, in a tone of voice that sounded as if he was struggling to get those words out.

"Brett. It is really sweet that you are worried about me, but I am going to be fine, but my mother is going to be back soon enough." Mickie said.

"Okay, I believe you." Brett said. In his mind, though, he knew that was to be taken with a grain of salt.

"Look, I have to get out of here. You want to come with me?" Brett asked, almost pleading with her to leave her for her sake.

"Nope. I am fine here by myself." Mickie smiled.

"Alright, if you don't want to be here by yourself, my window is always open. Later." Brett said, walking out the screen door, and up the street to his house. Mickie just sat at the doorway, and watched her friend leave her behind. He really did care about her, and just from talking to him, Mickie could tell that she didn't believe her when she was talking about how her mom was just out of town and that she was going to be back really soon.

Hell, even Mickie didn't believe that. But someone had to be hopeful about the type of things that were going on, why not her?

AN: Things are going to end there for now because I don't see the point of dragging on the big plot change over two chapters, and where Mickie's mom went is going to be found out in the next one, so stay tuned for that!